Public Speaking Books Review

Here are useful tips for public speaking that anyone can benefit from, no matter what kind of presentations you are planning to make. Any good public speaking book or course should cover these in one form or another.

Know your audience

Before you make a speech anywhere–before you even write your speech–you must first know who you will be speaking to. The impact of your presentation will be far greater if you are actually addressing the particular needs and interests of your listeners. So, if you don’t already know, take some time to learn about your audience. Who are they, what do they like, what are their biggest concerns? Even if the essential content of your presentation remains the same, this step will make all the difference. The great speaker Russell Conwell was known throughout his life for a famous motivational speech he gave thousands of times in towns and cities around the country, but which he never delivered the same way twice. Once you make a real connection with your listeners, your communication will be much more powerful.

Know your material

One of the most surefire ways to reduce your speaking anxiety is to make sure you know what you’re talking about. When you understand your subject matter well, you will begin to project confidence automatically. Then, once you have a strong grasp on your material and have crafted your basic presentation, it’s practice, practice, practice. Try using a mirror, or a friend to listen to you. One of the great secrets is to record yourself on audio, or even make a video of yourself. Getting an outside perspective will help you trim the fat and further develop the substantial areas of your presentation.

Know yourself!

You could say the essence of public speaking is connecting yourself and your message with the world. So the more comfortable and insightful you are about yourself, the more effective and influential your contact will be with others. Learn what your strong points are, and emphasize them. Don’t worry too much about what doesn’t come naturally for you. Passion makes an immeasurable difference. If you deliver a message you are passionate about, it will resonate a hundred times stronger with your audience. So, dig in and make sure you are communicating something you have strong beliefs in. Finally, try to remember that your nervousness is actually excitement and enthusiasm waiting to be transformed. This is a secret that all the public speaking pros understand. That nervous energy is really the fuel for a powerful performance, so start seeing your anxiety as your mojo in disguise!

More to come in another post soon, so stay tuned.

Ryan